| Statistics often
hide a variety of inter-related facts in addition to the
one or two results they were designed to reveal.
For example, we learned recently that unemployment had
hit a worrisome 9 percent, signaling our economy was not,
as yet, entering a recovery phase. One of the hidden side
effects of the poor economy, with more families in financial
distress, is that elder abuse is on the increase.
Loss of income has caused families who had lived separately
to combine households. Younger members are taking extra,
part-time employment to make ends meet, and seniors on fixed
incomes cannot pay for essential services. The result is
additional stress on all concerned.
People don’t like to talk about elder abuse. In fact,
of federal dollars spent on domestic violence, 92 percent
is allocated for child abuse, but aging and frail seniors
are just as vulnerable as children, and often as unable
to complain.
One of the most common forms of abuse is financial exploitation
by family members who often rationalize their behavior by
saying, “It’s family money, anyway,” or
they earn what they take because they are acting as a caregiver.
(Mrs. Brooke Astor’s son is now in a lengthy trial
on charges of mismanaging his mother’s estate and
conspiring with her attorney to have coerced her to change
her will.)
Of course, not all abuse is of a financial origin, nor
is all abuse always intentional. Sometimes caregivers are
overwhelmed by the demands of an elderly parent, and there
is often lack of emotional support from siblings who are
not nearby. Even for well-meaning and loving caregivers,
the level of care required may exceed their ability and
their skills.
Demented individuals who exhibit disturbing behaviors pose
excessive care-giving demands.
The word abuse covers a wide variety of behaviors, from
actual physical violence of some kind to failure by a caregiver
to satisfy the older adult’s basic needs or to protect
the person from harm. Isolation or abandonment, inadequate
living arrangements and constant berating can all occur
even in a “protected” institutional setting,
as well as at home.
Reported abuse in America is thought to affect approximately
450,000 people annually, but since only half of the cases
are formally reported, the actual prevalence range may be
more than 1 million.
If you suspect someone is a victim of abuse, you may anonymously
call Elderly Protective Services at (888) 385-4225 statewide,
or (203) 974-8027 locally, or the Domestic Violence Hotline,
(203) 736-9944.
They will need the abused person’s name and house
number, and they will, within five days, unless it is an
emergency situation, make a professional call. They are
trained to do this in a very low-key, courteous manner,
and they will interview the elder person and the caregiver,
separately, to determine if there is anything wrong.
If the elderly person is in a nursing home, you can seek
help from the long-term care ombudsman.
The following may be signs of inadequate care or possible
abuse:
- Physical injuries.
- Inappropriate clothing or clothing that is soiled.
- Poor hygiene.
- Deficient nutrition leading to loss of weight.
- Person has anxiety or fear of caregiver.
- Depression or withdrawal.
- Frequent requests for escalating medication.
- Repeated falls and hospital admissions.
- Inability of the senior to account for money or property.
- Loss of Social Security or pension checks.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
